The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-28


into position on the meridian, and |
observations on high and low stars
verified the accuracy of the line. The
same process was gone through with |
at every succeeding transit station.
The point on the Backbone of the
mountains is well marked by nature
as it stands on a sharp ridge and
within few feet of its highest point.
The view from this point was most
extensive and magnificent. The eye
could look tor miles in every direc-
ton; the valleys of the Cheat, the
Blackwater, the Potomac and the
Youghiogheny Rivers, all could be
traced early in the morning or late
in the evening, by the white lines of
delicate fog rising up from their
waters.
To the south lay impenetrable for
ests, whilst to the North farms and
glades were spread out before the adj
miring gaze. A visit to this station
not far from the head springs of the
YOughiOgheny is well worth the
trouble of the traveller. From this
the third principal station was estab-
lished on Lauer Hill, besides sever
al others on the low ridges between.
This last position is not a very high
one and much more accessible than
the rest. Between these two the
line intersects the Horse Shoe Run
Road and the North West Turnpike.
The fourth principal station was on
top of the Shaggy Mountain before
reaching it the line crosses the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. From the
| top of this mountain another very
extended landscape is presented to
the eye. This is truly the most inn
portant of all the stations along the
line, as from it you can overlook with
the transit nearly the entire length of
the meridional line. 1t is also a we'll
marked position by nature in cOnse-
quence of its great altitude and the
small area of It's summit, from the
fact of the line Immediately passing
oyer its highest point it becomes
prominent land mark. The fifth
principal transit station is on Felix's
Hill, spur of BrIary Mountain. 1t
is but few miles to the North of the
village of GAINESVILLE, the line passing
only short distance to the east of
that place. From this station the
meridian marks were established by
flashes on Evans Hill and Sickel's
Hill to the North the latter a mile
South of Mason and Dixon's line, the
Southern boundary of Pennsylvania.
This last distance, like all the inter-
mediate ones between the principal
stations, was run with the Drummer
Theodolite it was impossible to
see the point of intersection of the
meridian and Pennsylvania line from
the last transit station owing to its
low position. Mason and Dixon's
line is here marked by stakes sur
rounded by heaps of loose stone, one
mile apart from each other; by trac.
ing the line between these piles its
junction with the meridian was de-
termined. The terminating point is
alongside of the turnpike leading
from Cranberry Summit, on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to
Smithfield in Pennsylvania, and
within few feet of where the road
crosses the boundary of the last State.
Its position is therefore easily found.
A monument of cut stone designates
the spot. Each of the principal sta
lions, and also the intersection of the
line with the North West Turnpike
and the Railroad are marked in the
same way. The total length of the
Western meridian is about 81 miles.
With the exception of a few miles
along this entire distance a broad
open cut from twenty to forty feet
through heavily timbered country
has been made, which will serve to
mark it for many years to come. The
gap varies in width according to the
size of the timber, and depends much
upon the over-hanging branches the
trees were felled outward from the
line, and a sufficiently broad opening
made to prevent the limbs from in.
terfering with an open vista through
out its length.
Within 4l32 feet North of Fairfax
Stone the line crosses the North
Branch of the Potomac, the stream
making a head to the West and
North from the spring. before assum-
ing its general course towards the
East. 1t is but narrow sheet of
water there, running through laurel
swamp|. This point was marked by
planting IA heavy stake. The Nerd
ian starting from one of the highest
points of the Alleghanies has been